The origin of the name "West Point" was
coined by Elias K. Freed and Henry Moyer. Freed
and Moyer owned
a
flour mill in North Wales, PA. The two businessmen built
several buildings about a mile west of North Wales for a
commodity not seen in West Point these days, hay and animal feed. They named one of the
buildings the
West Point Feed House.
In the days before the automobile it would be akin to
owning a gas station, and was very profitable.
(It should be noted here that Elias K. Freed was also
the president of the First National Bank of Lansdale) |
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Elias K. Freed's grist mill on Main Street, North Wales
PA in 1885.
This mill had five large grinding stones to grind wheat
into flour.
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This rendering of the mill is part of map of North
Wales dated 1886, eight years after "West Point" was
formally
named
by the U. S. Post Office. This was the first roller process mill in Montgomery
County and was powered by a steam engine.
Notice the discrepancy between the top photo and this
drawing. Elias Freed had rebuilt the mill, replacing the
five
grinding stones with a new technology that used
cylindrical corrugated cast iron rollers, greatly
increasing its capacity.
(The people and horses are not drawn to scale.)
Where was this mill? The location is shown below.
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The mill is shown on Main Street in the 1886 map. The
Number "1" on the key to the map says,
"North Wales Steam Roller Mills, E. K. Freed
& Co".
Those familiar with the area can tell by
the railroad
tracks that it was located next to the present day North
Wales fire house. |
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The mill exists
today as 137 Main Street in North Wales.
In 2005 it was rebuilt as modern office space.
West Point is west of THIS
building!
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| Here is the 1886 map to view or
download. (7.3 megabytes - will open in a new window) |
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